Cat nutrition - wet food vs. dry food

Species-appropriate cat nutrition seems to be difficult - but it doesn't have to be!

A balanced and species-appropriate cat diet is essential to ensure the health of your house cat*. However, if your cat had its way, there would often be a different type of food in your bowl, wouldn't it? It's not always easy to feed your cat properly. There are many different opinions and pieces of wisdom about cat nutrition. These can give the impression that the subject is a complicated science. This article is intended to clear up some misconceptions and briefly show you all the important aspects of your cat's diet. Under the affiliate links marked with an (*) you will find further resources about cat health and tips and tricks for a vital cat life.

First we should clarify the question of how to recognize good cat food.

Of course, the right choice of food for cats is one of the most important points to ensure health. Many cat owners are not aware of the ingredients in species-appropriate cat food. That is why we have prepared 2 tables for you so that you can easily compare whether your current feed meets these requirements. It is always worth looking at the ingredients in your cat food to make a good purchasing decision.

This content should be present:

- meat (at least 90%) in food quality
- high-quality animal by-products are also acceptable depending on the quantity
- meat products preferably in organic quality
- sufficient taurine
- minerals (iron, zinc, magnesium, selenium, manganese and iodine)
- calcium and phosphorus
- potassium and sodium
- vitamins (A, B, D, E and K)

For the well-being of your house tiger, you should pay attention to high-quality products when feeding your cat. Organic products are best, as they are not only free of antibiotics, drugs or chemicals. In addition, the animals used for the fodder probably lived under better conditions. The food is therefore ideally free of preservatives, flavor enhancers and other artificial additives. A sugar-free diet is also important, because otherwise obesity and dental problems can result.

Cats are predators with a strong hunting instinct. This fact allows us to draw conclusions about natural and species-appropriate nutrition. Only animal tissues contain the vital protein and taurine and all the necessary amino acids. Their digestive system has also specialized in the easily digestible food rich in protein and fat. A vegetarian or vegan diet is definitely not suitable for cats.

To explain the list of good ingredients a little better, we would like to show you the benefits and why.

Cats can only produce small amounts of the amino acid taurine themselves. You use them to build proteins and as a source of energy in your metabolism. Therefore, for example, the proportion of proteins in cat food must be higher than in dogs. Animal tissue in particular (this also includes offal, i.e. by-products) contains many important nutrients in addition to proteins. A cat could not survive without these nutrients.For example, taurine and vitamin A promote a healthy heart and good eyesight. Arachidonic acid promotes healthy skin and coat. So, insufficient amounts in your cat's diet could impair vision and cause heart problems. To keep your cat fit and vital, you should offer it a balanced diet that contains all the important nutrients.

Dry food or wet food?

We get asked this question again and again. However, the answer depends on your cat and its eating habits. A housecat has different needs than a cat that roams the neighborhood all day. For example, your cat is 100% dependent on you, which makes a balanced diet even more important. A cat that spends a lot of time outdoors will instinctively drink more water and, if necessary, take in vitamins and food from hunting. In addition, it is not necessary to decide on a type of feed. It makes sense to use different feeds to bring more variety into the diet.

There is now a huge selection of wet and dry food. Also for cats with special needs. You can buy food for people with allergies or for animals with specific diseases or problems. You can even buy food especially for young animals or seniors, cats who are outdoors or indoors, or even very specific breeds.

In general, there are three main types of cat food

The three main types of cat food are wet food, dry food, and wet food, which has a lower liquid content than wet food.

Dry food: The most commonly purchased food is dry food. It has a maximum water content of 12 percent. It has the advantage that it is usually inexpensive and can reduce the build-up of plaque and tartar in cats. It also stays fresh longer after opening and can stay in the bowl longer. This means your cat can choose when and how much of it to eat. However, you should keep an eye on her not eating more than she needs. As soon as you notice that you are slightly overweight, you should control and ration the feed. When feeding dry food, it is particularly important to provide enough water points such as drinking fountains. Also, a cheap price here does not mean that it is of inferior quality. Dry food can also contain many valuable ingredients and contribute to a balanced diet.

Wet foods: They are generally tastier than dry foods and are convenient to serve and store. It is slightly wetter in consistency and often contains air-dried ingredients.

Wet food: One speaks of wet food when the finished food has a water content of 75 to 80 percent. It is mostly sold in small cans or sachets and is considered to be the tastiest type of food. However, the wet food must be kept in the refrigerator after opening. Wet food should always be fed at room temperature so your cat can really taste the texture and flavors. Once opened, cover leftovers and store in the fridge. Wet food requires a little more planning, as the leftovers should also be taken out of the fridge an hour before feeding to bring them to room temperature.

TIP

In nature, cats meet their fluid needs primarily through food. For a healthy cat diet, you should make sure that your cat drinks enough.Also, cats don't like to drink in the same place where they eat their food, so it's wise to provide different drinking options in your home.

When choosing food for our cat, we must not forget that every cat has its own taste. So we have to experiment a little until we have found the favorite taste of our furry friends. In young kittens there is a so-called food stamping. This means that depending on how the little cat is fed at first, its preferences and tastes will develop. Therefore, young cats should be accustomed to different types of food as early as possible. In adult cats, on the other hand, the food should not be changed too often. This can lead to the digestion being overloaded. A little variety doesn't hurt, though.

Finally, a few more tips

Leftovers and food should not be on your cat's menu. They are often over-seasoned and can cause digestive problems. In addition, some foods are even harmful to humans, such as chocolate, onions, grapes and raisins, avocados or raw pork or poisonous to animals.

You can ensure a balanced diet and some variety with different types of food. However, try to avoid a sudden change. This is especially true when you switch from wet to dry food or vice versa. This can lead to digestive problems. It is advisable to always add a small portion of the new variety to the old variety first. This way you can slowly get your cat used to the new strain.

If your cat isn't interested in the food, it doesn't have to be a bad sign. It is quite possible that the cat will catch and eat a mouse or other prey. In addition, some cats also tend to be spoiled by a second family. 😉 However, if your cat behaves abnormally in other ways, or if the cat avoids eating for several days, a veterinarian should be consulted to be on the safe side, in order to avoid possible illnesses.

More on your cat's health in this post.

Dr. David Brunner has written a super funny and yet very informative paperback on the subject. He calls it: "Cat - Operating instructions: Commissioning, maintenance and servicing" - A manual for optimizing development and increasing product convenience. With safety instructions.